LeBron to Miami rumors.

• Ender Wiggin

  

  -Lebron put a down payment on a 40 million dollar house in coral gables
  
  -A limo driver is reporting the heat are prepping catering for Lebron at the triple A arena.
  
  -Lebron is flying down tonight to have dinner with wade and bosh tonight
  
  -Lebron is having a conference call with wade and bosh tonight.
  
  -Riley has already unloaded Beasley's contract and is holding off on any announcements till tomorrow.
  
  -Heat owner Mickey Arisons spotted with some of Lebron's people at the triple A.
  
  -Miami Herald is chasing down Lebron house in coral gables rumor.
  
  -Local abc channel 10 had a reporter outside wade's house and the maid told her Lebron was coming
  
  -more rumors of real estate agents showing lebron houses in various places around Miami
  
  -Dan Le Batard has a source that has never been wrong saying this is a done deal
• justincredible

  

  I think he goes to the Jets.
• Gardens35

  -Lebron winked at Dan Marino as the two passed in the B Terminal at the Charlotte Airport. Turns out that it wasn't Marino after all, but it was too late to take back the nod...
• sleeper

  

  If he goes, he goes. We will find out soon.
• IggyPride00

  

  From Windy's Twitter:
  

  Newsday has reported LeBron has decided on Heat. Only a couple of people can truly confirm this. None have to me at this point.

• gibby08

  

  What do you expect him to say....
  
  It's looking more and more likely that he is leaving
• jpake1

  

  http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67957/20100708/report_lebron_leaning_towards_miami_heat/
  
  We shall see in less than 24 hours. I won't believe it unless he says it.
• killdeer

  

  not surprised at all........I called it weeks ago, and put my money on my vcash
  
  1. If he was gonna stay in Cleveland, why all the drama for the last few weeks
  2. You go to Chicago...no matter how you do, you are still the second best player of all time.
  3. Clippers or Nets...r u kidding?
  4. Miami offers the chance to work with the strong coach/mentor-type personality LBJ needs...someone more famous and richer...of which there are few...Mr. Pat Riley
  5. The Knicks actually have way more rebuilding ahead of them than the CAVS; might as well have stayed home.
• jpake1

  

  I've been saying it's Miami if not Cleveland for around 2 years now. It got many laughs back then; not sure they're laughing now. A bit too close for comfort. I still won't believe it until I see it.
• killdeer

  

  ^^^agree.....I have said the same.
  
  the interesting thing is what this means for the NBA.
  
  If you have a large free-agent class of wealthy veterans, essentially they have exponentially more power than any owner.
  LBJ may not be wealthier than some owners...but he does have way more earning potential.
  
  When the players are able to control their movement exclusively, regardless of the ownership, the NBA will become a farce that is halfway between "big time wrestling" and "roller derby"......
  Mr. Stern will either need to be the 'strong commissioner' type.....or else the NBA will begin to fade.
• sportswizuhrd

  What I have seen from twit land.
  
  Sam Amico said he drove by LBJ's house and all the lights were on and more cars than usual were there. He said once he figured out how to, he would put up a tweet pic of LeBron's house. That might not be a good idea if he leaves.
  
  Chris Broussard also said on his twitter that LeBron played pick-up softball with his family and friends from 6-8:30. It could be CB making a mockery of the situation who knows. Side note: Anyone else realize Broussard is from Cleveland and lived there for 12 years going to school at Oberlin College. He said that on The Herd this morning.
  
  Ric Bucher(fellow Ohioan) also had a tweet up saying LeBron was flying to Miami tonight but later pulled it. He said it was from a source and sent the info to ESPN.
• IggyPride00

  

  ESPN just flashed in the breaking news scroll that Broussard just said everything he is hearing all point to Lebron signing in Miami.
  
  He has hardly been reliable on his reporting, but it seems that ever since Bosh made the decision to go there an avalanche of momentum toward Miami has started.
  
  Unless Chris Grant pulls a rabbit out of his hat (which considering he has been sitting around scratching his ass while all the east competitors get better) to show Lebron the Cavs do care, it is looking bleaker than I could have imagined 24 hours ago.
• IggyPride00

  

  The Heat got a huge boost when Chris Bosh decided to leave the Toronto Raptors and committed to sign early Wednesday. Then they got another push late Wednesday when the NBA announced the salary cap number and it was $2 million higher than expected.
  
  Previously, it appeared that if the three stars split the Heat's available cap space that they'd be leaving millions on the table. But the extra cap space made the starting salaries only about $1 million off, perhaps sweetening the pot.
  
  Also, as the Heat pointed out in their pitches to players, the lack of a state income tax in Florida mitigated the potential difference in salary.

  http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/07/lebron_james_will_choose_miami.html
  
  Part of a story just posted by Windy.
  
  I bolded the last part, but it is worth noting for sure because with the extra $2 million added on the cap tonight the Heat can get close enough in starting salaries for Bosh and Lebron that by the time you compare what they are losing over the life of a 5 year deal by resigning vs. what they will make in Miami first year with no state income tax it is a wash.
  
  The 6th year is the only money they leave on the table, but ultimately he will get it when he signs a new deal anyway after this next one is up.
  
  Windy is overly optomistic about everything usually, and he isn't poo-pooing this story yet so it is beginning to make me wonder.
• IggyPride00

  

  Just like Art Modell he could no longer handle the stench of cleveland. Just like Art Modell he will soon win his ring now that he has a team and fans around him.

  Thought that was pretty funny.
• sportswizuhrd

  Broussard column
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5363055
  
  Bold part makes alot of sense...
  

  James' family and friends are divided over his decision to play in Miami, according to sources. Opinions range from understanding his desire to play with All-Star teammates, to feeling he is selling himself short by joining Wade's team, to concerns that playing on such a power-packed squad will hurt his brand even if he wins championships.
  
  James worked hard to help the Cavaliers improve their roster, sources said. He tried to sell Bosh on the idea of going to Cleveland, but the 6-foot-11 forward was adamant he did not want to play in northeast Ohio.
  
  While sources close to James insist his heart is in Cleveland and remaining with the Cavaliers was his preferred choice, they say he had concerns about signing a six-year deal there and ending up "31 years old, with bad knees and no title."

  Cavs Front Office hasnt done anything to make him think that signing a long term deal will help him win titles in Cleveland. Going to Miami and playing with Bosh and Wade might pro-long his career(taking less bumps by less driving) and get him some titles at the same time. The Heat will be DWade's team though for however long he is there.
  
  IMO, he should just sign a 2 or 3 year deal in Cleveland and then go to Miami if it doesnt work out. 9-10 years in the league and then its time to be selfish(by leaving his area/city/state).
• IggyPride00

  

  While sources close to James insist his heart is in Cleveland and remaining with the Cavaliers was his preferred choice, they say he had concerns about signing a six-year deal there and ending up "31 years old, with bad knees and no title."

  He must have really taken what Garnett said to heart after the Celtics knocked out the Cavs.
  
  Not coincidentally, Garnett was 31 with no title before he ended up in Boston.
  
  He basically told Lebron if he had known then what he knows now, instead of being loyal to Minnesota all those years wasting his prime with no real chance to win a title he would have forced his way out sooner.
  
  For Lebron right now it doesn't take a degree in brain surgery to look at the landscape in the east and see a similar fate happening to him because there is not enough here to win a ring, and one has to wonder whether they can ever get a legit #2 for Lebron when free agents don't want to come here.
  
  It might not carry the same weight as winning one in Cleveland, but Lebron's career would ultimately be better off winning a ring in Miami even if it is slightly diminished, as opposed to staying in Cleveland and being ringless.
  
  Over the course of 5 years, it is unfathomable to me that a team with Bosh/Wade/Lebron (with Chalmers and a bunch of scrubs) doesn't win at least 1 title. Same can't be said about Cleveland, so in some ways he almost has to go for the sure thing.
• HitsRus

  

  ...and hence meaningless. Going to Miami and winning a title on a team full of superstars does nothing to enhance his legacy. He could win a title and not even be MVP. How embarrissing would that be....not even being the best player on the team.
• Ytowngirlinfla

  

  HitsRus;415340 wrote:...and hence meaningless. Going to Miami and winning a title on a team full of superstars does nothing to enhance his legacy. He could win a title and not even be MVP. How embarrissing would that be....not even being the best player on the team.

  
  I will laugh when they don't win a title. Either too much ego or someone will get hurt.
• elbuckeye28

  HitsRus;415340 wrote:...and hence meaningless. Going to Miami and winning a title on a team full of superstars does nothing to enhance his legacy. He could win a title and not even be MVP. How embarrissing would that be....not even being the best player on the team.

  
  Yeah because Garnett's legacy wasn't enhanced when he won a title playing second fiddle to Paul Peirce 3 years ago. Even this year he was behind and Rajon Rando and Pierce this year and still added to his legacy.
• Mohican00

  

  
• lhslep134

  

  elbuckeye28;415349 wrote:Yeah because Garnett's legacy wasn't enhanced when he won a title playing second fiddle to Paul Peirce 3 years ago. Even this year he was behind and Rajon Rando and Pierce this year and still added to his legacy.

  
  I disagree. I don't think Garnett's legacy was enhanced at all. If anything, it didn't change. He went to an all star team to win a championship, he didn't carry a team himself. For that reason, I don't think Pierce or Allen's legacy improved either. I will say, however, is that their legacies were not hurt.
• BR1986FB

  This move would make NO sense. Chicago I could see but not Miami.
• purple_rein

  If they can't find some role players and a bench, I don't see how a 3 man team can win a championship even if the 3 are all top 12 players in the NBA.
• HitsRus

  

  Yeah because Garnett's legacy wasn't enhanced when he won a title playing second fiddle to Paul Peirce 3 years ago. Even this year he was behind and Rajon Rando and Pierce this year and still added to his legacy.

  
  Yeah, well that's fine if you want your legacy to be in that group. However, if you want to be in the same class, as Jordan, Johnson or Byrd, then you have to be the #1 guy...the guy who takes the team upon his back and wins.
• BR1986FB

  purple_rein;415364 wrote:If they can't find some role players and a bench, I don't see how a 3 man team can win a championship even if the 3 are all top 12 players in the NBA.

  
  My point why it made no sense. Mike & Mike had Jon Berry on this morning and he essentially said the Heat will have LBJ, Bosh, Wade, Chalmers and three 2nd round draft picks on their roster. They will need to fill 5 more slots with essentially no money.